“The history of Cape Verde is intertwined with the continuous contribution of the PAICV over many decades. Like the Socialist Party in Portugal, the PAICV has worked alongside us and fought challenging battles marked by numerous successes, starting from the establishment of Portuguese democracy and Cape Verde’s self-determination, resulting in immense progress in our countries,” praised Carlos César, in a video message sent to the 18th National Congress of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), which has been gathering around 500 delegates from the country and the diaspora in Cape Verde’s capital, Praia, since Friday and throughout the weekend.
Whether in government or opposition, according to the president of the PS, the effort should continue along this path, “honoring past work and creating a hopeful future.”
“I congratulate Francisco Carvalho on his election as the new party president, wishing him the best in his duties and assuring him of full cooperation from Portuguese socialists,” he added, in the message to be delivered at the congress today.
Carlos César expressed that “the PAICV is, and will always be, a respected political force, whose legacy towards a more just and developed society can never be undervalued.”
“We are aware that the times we live in are particularly demanding, marked by multiple crises on both a global and regional scale, which should prompt parties like ours towards concerted and effective action,” he urged, citing pandemics, war, violent crime, or the “multiple threats to the security of people and territories” as examples.
For the president of the PS, it is “in these moments that progressive parties” like the PS and PAICV must “reaffirm themselves with conviction, firmness, and persistence, feeling and speaking with the people.”
“Emphasizing battles such as the eradication of poverty and the strengthening of public policies in defense of peace and security, education and health for all, and the building of fairer and more sustainable economies,” he advocated.
Considering that the PAICV “is a benchmark in Cape Verde’s history,” a country now marking 50 years of its independence, Carlos César predicted that it will continue to be so and that they will always count on Portuguese socialists.
This will be the first congress following the municipal elections in December 2024 in which the PAICV won in the majority of councils (15 out of 22 municipalities), sparking a turnaround that galvanized members to face the Movement for Democracy (MpD, currently in power) in next year’s legislative elections.
A key event of the congress, held at the University of Cape Verde, will be the election of the new national council, the highest governing body between congresses, which will then select the political commission and the general secretariat.
Francisco Carvalho, the mayor of the Municipality of Praia, succeeds Rui Semedo as the party president.
